News   Mar 28, 2024
 992     2 
News   Mar 28, 2024
 554     2 
News   Mar 28, 2024
 848     0 

Weston Village

If anything can "gentrify" Weston, bring it on! It's a community with a lot of nice old houses on the side streets east of Weston Road and north of Lawrence. At one time you could imagine it having been a real community, with its own neighbourhood shopping, etc. It's gone downhill considerably, with several apartment buildings which are one step above slums, and an awful lot of cheap-looking stores on Weston Road.
 
Weston is another interesting community with plenty of urban appeal immediately surrounded by a newer more suburban landscape. Gentrification would be exciting, but all communities have their artists. These days we have BIAs and local leaders across the city that recognize the community building potential of giving local artists venues whether the area is attracting the rich crowd or not.
 
No way

This gallery is horrible. I've never seen anyone treat people like that. They were so rude to my friend and I when we went in there. We asked them about some paintings and they told us to get away from the art! I asked why and some little guy said because we can't afford it anyways. And they don't even have art there anymore. I walked by the other day and it looked empty. They're probably going under. That sign is way too bright and distracting too, epecially since I live across the street from it.

There's a lot of good things in Weston, but this isn't one of them.
 
what ever happened to that store with the fake stuffed animals / fish , it was a kind of an outdoors type of store , with a wooden finish ???

I'm looking at google map now , the address of the gallery appears to be located in the exact same spot as that store

haven't been to that area in a long time
 
This place SUCKS

That place used to be a taxidermy. I went there and there was only 1 person working who was very unprofessional, snide, and shady and didn't even know anything about art. On top of that there is absolutely NO parking anywhere near it. An art gallery with no art, no employees, and no knowledge... It's probably a cover for something else/illegal.
 
That place used to be a taxidermy. I went there and there was only 1 person working who was very unprofessional, snide, and shady and didn't even know anything about art. On top of that there is absolutely NO parking anywhere near it. An art gallery with no art, no employees, and no knowledge... It's probably a cover for something else/illegal.


totally agree,this is really strange location for this kind of place,the place looks empty all the time and no parking.The huge lcd sign cost more than most of the artist work of art combined.Weston as of today has been transform from a sweet little town within a city to a really low end business district that carters to the working class and those who are on welfare.From the apartmenst on Martha Eatonway,Falstaff,Chalkfarm, and the infamous 1765-1775 Weston Rd slum apartments this is a really rough area..alot of criminal activity to say the least.
 
The charms of energized Weston are an open secret

Suzanne Wintrob, March 01, 2008

Suri Weinberg-Linsky wouldn't trade her old house in Weston Village for her old life in Forest Hill for anything.

It's not because the 1928 home she shares with her husband, Mike, is just a few blocks from Squibb's Stationers, the book and office-supply store that her late parents bought in 1980 and that she and Mike now run. Nor is it because "it's 10 minutes away from anywhere" or because the houses are much more affordable than other parts of the city.

Rather, it's the century-old trees, heritage homes and lively neighbours that keep Ms. Weinberg-Linsky so connected.

"I live, breathe and eat Weston," she admits.

While she has lived in the 'hood for only 11 years, her enthusiasm for her adopted area is right up there with the true old timers. She can spout its history even while shovelling her car out of a snowbank, and is among the first to knock on doors and sign petitions when developers come after the little cottages and post-war split levels to make way for modern digs.

The most recent squabble was over 96 Queen's Dr., where an 85-year-old bungalow and 200-year-old elm tree now stand. When a developer threatened to build on the property, residents took their fight to the Ontario Municipal Board. They lost but they're now canvassing to have the neighbourhood designated as a Heritage Conservation District to stop the bulldozers from rolling in.

"A lot of people hadn't given a lot of thought to the heritage quality of this neighbourhood, but now that we've lost 96 Queen's Dr. and we think developers will just swarm in here to begin to change the community, we've energized the neighbourhood," says resident Philip Keirstead as he hands out flyers to drum up support. "People who didn't care before are now quite worried about Weston."

In 1792, some years after the Ojibwa people called the area home, John Countryman mapped the Humber River and was so pleased with the oak and pine bush that he built a sawmill on the west bank. More settlers followed, including brothers who opened a general store and dubbed the area Weston after their home in England. Next came the railway, turning the area into a thoroughfare for businessmen and travellers. Village status was granted in 1881.

Today, it's a sought-after pocket for professors, politicians (Gerard Kennedy lives here), artists and young families looking for something affordable, kid-friendly and close to downtown.

"It's a great neighbourhood to raise kids," says agent Anita Merlo of Bosley Real Estate. "Young couples love the older homes for their character. They share babysitting, go to mom groups and raise each other's children."

First-time buyers can grab a small two-bedroom bungalow on a 40-foot lot for just $260,000, with renovated digs fetching $425,000. Three-storey, five-bedroom, 2,000-sq.-ft. homes with character on 50-ft. lots on popular King Street or what they call "cute" Queen's Drive average $550,000 (a similar house in the Annex or Bloor West Village would fetch well over $1-million). There are also townhouses and condos, most built on old factory lots.

The Go Train is steps away, as are parks and the Humber River's cycling paths. Schools are plentiful, too, with public and Catholic schools within walking distance. Weston Collegiate Institute, alma mater of TVO host Elwy Yost and B.C. Finance Minister Carole Taylor, just celebrated its 150 anniversary.

Community spirit is everywhere. Neighbours band together for the summer farmers' market and the Queen's Drive Garage Sale in June. Every September they tie pink ribbons to trees and cheer as the Walk for the Cure winds through their streets. They host an annual Santa Claus parade and then head to St. John's Anglican Church to sing carols. They even open their doors for the annual fall walking tour.

Still, not everything is rosy, particularly the shopping and dining scenes. Residents distance themselves from Lawrence Avenue West -- "the great divide," as they call it -- where they say crime is rampant. Weston Road, the village's main drag, is an eyesore of dollar stores, cheque-cashing outlets and optical shops, forcing residents to head for the big box Crossroads Plaza or flee for chicer Bloor West Village.

But they take care of their own. Ward Funeral Homes on Weston Road dates back to 1914 and is still going strong, as is Squibb's Stationers. P&M Restaurant, with its homemade souvlaki and fish 'n' chips, is always full, as is Sardinha the King of BBQ Chicken and the popular Central tavern. Caldense Bakery and Starfish fish market are also busy. Residents support the Frontlines centre for at-risk youth run by the Weston Baptist Church and the Y-Arts storefront arts centre.

While residents admit that unique stores like Allen's Scottish Butcher, known for its superb haggis, and World of Cake Decorating raise Wes-ton's profile across town, what they really hunger for is caffeine.

"We're begging to walk down the street for a good cup of coffee," says Ms. Weinberg-Linsky. "We just need someone willing to take that chance. People took a chance on Leslieville and Parkdale. When you look through our community, everyone is blown away. We're the best kept secret in Toronto."
 
Some of the condos they built on Weston is horrible...the one on LW/Weston (2088 LW) is a prime example...little security,lobby doesnt even look like the photo that was used to sell these units,majority of the units are rental,lack of 24 hour security,units are poorly made and designed,I heard a lot of initial tenants already moved out the first year,I know one who took a lost and moved to Brampton because she couldnt stand the total lack of up keep of the building.The condos in Weston are very poorly made and most does not have any sort security pass the front door.So strangers can easily enter when a tenant enters without being questioned.
 
There's nothing like a terribly executed building in an area struggling to revive itself to inspire negative feelings over new development. It's like they consider the community vulnerable and weak. Residents have to apply pressure for new development that's actually positive, not some future slum.
 
There's nothing like a terribly executed building in an area struggling to revive itself to inspire negative feelings over new development. It's like they consider the community vulnerable and weak. Residents have to apply pressure for new development that's actually positive, not some future slum.


EXACTLY...The "Condo" (keele/Wilson) that is situated where the Howard Johnson used to be is a joke,and so is the newer one on Keele north of Wilson (west side)...no security..feels like a rental apartment rather than a condo..technically its in North York but still its still part of the Weston borders.The condo across from the Superstore (weston,401) is another a prime example of the "feel" of the condos in this area..made fast and cheap and with little or no security.The only decent ones are the 15 year Hictorytree units which style is dated but up keep is strong with 24 hour security.I truly admire those who still looks at Weston as a small town,those days are over 15 years ago..now its a tough area surrounded by rentals with pockets of small houses.The schools are another story...
 
Weston Village

Not going to comment on Artcube except to say that it could be more that what it is and that a lot of us had high expectations based on what was expressed to the community by the owners.

As for the main drag, the BIA, the crime, etc.-- there are a lot of reasons why we have what we have but there are a lot of people who are involved in trying to make Weston a better place to live 'right now' and also to stop the bad development that had been the norm over the last 20 or 30 years. The politicians of the past 30 years have had their hand in the bad development not just in allowing them to be built but by allowing too many to be built and badly. As residents, it is incumbent on YOU to let City Hall know that you are sick of it and reject it -- GET INVOLVED INSTEAD OF WRITING BLOGS!!!

Join the Historical Society, the Weston Heritage Conservation District, the Weston Community Coalition or just start your own group that can have a collective voice. Open a business if you are so inclined -- take a risk, it might surprise you. All of us who work on these committees or have businesses have a vested interest in saving and protecting our community -- we may not always succeed but at least we try.

And if you want your main street, Weston Road, to be healthy, SHOP THERE!! A busy street is a safer street. A busy street is a healthy street and the saying is: So goes the main street, so goes the neighbourhood. If you want a better neighbourhood, get out on the street, walk, even drive through -- criminals don't like being seen, they want empty streets to do their work.
 

Back
Top